Family Matters

In the rough and violent 1930’s in Chicago the Mafia’s membership included a slick lawyer they called Artful Eddie because he was so good at keeping Al Capone out of jail.  Time after time, he outwitted the authorities.  But Eddie was also the father of a boy named Butch, and deep inside he knew his crime career would severely limit Butch’s opportunities in the further.  What else could the son do but follow in his father’s footsteps?

Finally, the man made a fateful choice, he squealed on Capone.  Why?  the cops wanted to know.  “I want to give my son a break,” Eddie answered, and this time he wasn’t being artful.

Not many weeks later, the mob silenced him forever with two shotgun blasts.  Butch, however, went on to apply to Annapolis, and because his father had cleared the family name, he was accepted.  In World War II he was the Navy’s number-one ace.  And the first naval aviator ever to win the Congressional Medal of Honor.  A few years later, they christened a new Chicago airport after him, and today nearly every traveler in North American knows his name:  O’Hare.  Instead of going down in history as despicable and vile, the family is remembered with pride. 

What are you willing to sacrifice for your children?